Business anger as government drags its feet on ACT funding

Writing exclusively for edie a senior member of Air Products has spoken of the frustration of being held back by the lack of clarity around government subsidies for renewables.

Air Products director hydrogen and bio-energy systems, Ian Williamson, writes here for edie of his frustration at government funding and how it is holding up progress on his company's 49MW Energy from Waste (EfW) plant.

The future of the plant, which has been approved locally, remains in the balance as Air Products try to secure funding for Advanced Conversion Technologies (ACT).

Currently, the company is working on the remaining regulatory steps but as Mr Williamson explains he is waiting for commitment from the government on the financial support that will 'enable this emerging form of efficient, sustainable renewable generation to be financially viable and compete on a level playing field' with existing baseload, waste-conversion processes.

Mr Williamson goes on to say Air Products, like other potential investors in gasification, is eagerly awaiting on the government to see whether the current banding will be maintained and hopes that there will not be any further delays which may impact investment decision timing.

Mr Williamson explains: "Two ROCs per MWh are essential if emerging technologies such as advanced gasification are to get off the ground.

"The Tees Valley project would be a significant investment in the UK that we hope to bring online within the next three years."